Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) Minority Leader John G. Testa (R) Peekskill, was joined by his colleagues in passing legislation that authorized the County to enter into Inter-municipal agreements (IMA) with three Westchester cities for a total of $376,924 under the county’s “Invest in Kids” program. Under the agreement, the City of Peekskill will receive $69,231 of funding for its “Advancing Leadership Initiatives for Teens Program” (LIFT). The vote took place at the January 14th regular meeting of the BOL. The IMA terms provide for $245,000 to come from Westchester County and the remainder to be contributed by the municipalities.

The Legislation states that the various programs that will be funded throughout Westchester County, “…use positive youth development models to focus on providing opportunities for to actively acquire the skills and abilities needed to grow up to be competent, caring and healthy adult.”

Legislator John Testa retired in 2013 after a 33-year career as a Peekskill High School teacher. As a former teacher, Legislator Testa understands the importance of youth programs that give kids, especially at-risk kids healthy and constructive options for their time after school. “I was very happy to work with my legislative colleagues to secure these funds for Peekskill. I am very familiar with the LIFT Program and the excellent work that they do.” Legislator Testa said. “When I was a teacher, I saw first-hand how programs like LIFT improved the lives of many of my students. Summers and the after school hours are particularly dangerous times for kids who are unsupervised or who don’t have a strong family support system at home. The LIFT Program operates year-round which means that kids can build permanent and lasting relationships within our community even when school is not in session. This is an excellent investment in our youth and their future.”

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About John G. Testa

Former District 1 County Legislator, John G. Testa is served five terms at the Westchester County Board of Legislators, spending the last 3 terms as BOL Minority Leader.
John G. Testa is a lifelong resident of Peekskill who first entered elected public service as a member of the Peekskill Common Council in 1998 and then served three terms as Mayor. He previously served on the Conservation and Parks Advisory Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. John became an elected official eager to improve the City in which his family has lived for more than a century and quickly earned a reputation as a strong, independent, nonpartisan voice for fiscal responsibility.
John received a BS degree in Technology from SUNY Oswego, where his academic achievements gained him induction into Epsilon Pi Tau, the International Honorary Fraternity of Technology. He earned his MS degree in Technology from the City College of New York. He began his teaching career in 1980 at Peekskill High School, his alma mater, as an instructor in Technology and Social Studies, retiring in 2013 after 33 years teaching.
John has been a leader in support for the Arts Community in Westchester. He presided over the construction of the Peekskill Art Lofts, the establishment of the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, and the complete restoration of the Paramount Center for the Arts, originally a 1930’s movie house and helped bring critical funding to many Westchester programs. Legislator Testa received the “Advancing the Arts in Westchester Award” by ArtsWestchester.
John has a been a leader on environmental issues for two decades and has a long record of initiatives he has supported and spearheaded. His active involvement in developing and promoting environmentally friendly policies began as mayor and continued throughout his time as Westchester County Legislator. His efforts consistently earned John the endorsement of the NY League of Conservation Voters.
John’s most recognizable accomplishment has been his promotion and preservation of local history and historic landmarks, bringing an unprecedented focus on the region’s rich history, and its legacy of historic Victorian architecture. His roots in historical preservation stem from his experience as a Revolutionary War re-enactor and member of The Brigade of the American Revolution for 50 years.
John was instrumental in securing the preservation of the Lincoln Depot, now the Lincoln Depot Museum, where he now serves as President. The museum was recognized in 2015 as one of The Best Museums in Westchester. He also secured the preservation of historic Fort Hill as parkland, a 40-acre parcel that was originally a Revolutionary War encampment site. Under his leadership, the United States Dept. of the Interior declared Peekskill a “Preserve America Community.”
John was able to establish a record number of National Register designations of local structures, including the first Downtown and Neighborhood Historic Districts and supported the preservation of the historic Miller House in North White Plains. In 2017 John was named a “Champion of History” by the Lincoln Society in Peekskill.
John and his wife of 37 years, Nancy, live in Peekskill and have two adult children, John, Jr. (fiancé Courtney Kelly) and Katy (husband Mike Mearon). John and Nancy recently welcomed the arrival of their first grandchild, Lacey Mae, in 2019.